Bedside table structure



. Feb. 10, 1953 R E 2,628,147

BEDSIDE TABLE STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 22, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 10, 1953 H. M. BERNER BEDSIDE TABLE STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 22, 1948 W MV Feb. 10, 1953 BERNER 2,628,147

BEDSIDE TABLE STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 22, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 1%, 1953 BEDSIDE TABLE STRUCTURE Harry M. Berner, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Hospital Supply Corporation, Evanston, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 22, 1948, Serial No. 56,032

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a bedside table and more particularly to a type of table used. in hospitals in which the table is extended across the bed of the patient. Some of the inventions, however, are applicable to tables employed for other uses.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a table bringing to a patient in bed facilities for washing, make-up, shaving, etc. while requiring a minimum of effort by the patient and while providing also a table which is effective for supporting food trays and for the usual other functions of a table. Yet another object is to provide a table structure which may be readily moved about a room and to a position to bring the table in any desired position over the bed while at the same time providing rearwardly tiltable means for exposing a receptacle below the table for use by the patient in washing, shaving or in makeup, etc., the rearwardly tilting member providing a deflector inclined toward the receptacle while supporting a mirror, etc. at a desired angle. Yet another object is to provide a table firmly supported upon a perimetric tube for vertical adjustment, the tube having a forward extension and receiving a tubular U-shaped support to provide a stabilizing base. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a single embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l is a perspective view of a table structure embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a broken view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a table top portion moved to a rearwardly inclined position; Fig. 3, a bottom plan view of a table top, the receptacle and supporting structure being removed; Fig. 4, a vertical sectional view of my table structure shown on an enlarged scale; Fig. 5, a detailed sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line of Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the pivoted table portions lying in a horizontal plane and in the plane of the table top; Fig. '7, a detailed sectional view, the section. being taken as indicated at line 1-4 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 8, a broken perspective view illustrating the mechanism for raising and lowering the table top.

In the illustration given it designates a rectangular tube extending horizontally above the floor and having integrally formed therewith a vertically extending tube H. Extending through the member ii at its point of junction with the horizontal tube i0 is a U-shaped tubular member l2 which is equipped with rollers l3, as shown more clearly in Fig. l. The rectangular tube I0 is also provided with a roller l3. The U-shaped member it thus provides with the horizontal tube it a roller equipped base which provides a mobile support for the table structure which will be described.

Fixed to the top portion of the vertical tube H is a nut I4 which receives an actuating screw l5. The screw [5 is fixed to a sleeve member I! which encloses tube II, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. A U-shaped bracket arm l8 has outer flanges welded to the inner walls of the sleeve 11 and the member [8 is secured rigidly to the screw [5 by the collars l9 and 20 which are fixed to an unthreaded portion of the screw 15.

Any suitable means may be provided for rotating the screw to raise and lower the table top. In the specific illustration given, I provide a rotatable cap 23 resting upon the sleeve ll and fixed to the screw It. A handle 24 is connected by a pivot 33 to a vertical wall portion 33 of the member 23 so that when the handle portion 24 is extended, as shown in Fig. 8, the member 23 can be readily rotated so as to operate screw 15 in either direction. When, however, movement of the screw is not desired, the handle 24 may be swung to the position shown in Fig. 4 in which the Web of the handle substantially closes the channel provided by the vertical walls 39 of member 23.

The table top 2i may be of any suitable structure. In the illustration given, the table top has a central portion cut away so as to leave the table top substantially open in its center. For closing the top at such portion, I provide the complementary table portions 25 which are supported at their inner ends with pivots 26 so that the members 25 may be selectively swung upwardly to the rearwardly tilted position shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Each of the members 25 is preferably provided on its underside with a mirror 21.

On at least one side of the movable table portions 25, I secure to the adjacent stationary table top 2! an anchor plate 28. The plate, as shown best in Fig. 5, has on its underside the spaced laterally extending stops 29 adapted to be engaged by the beveled end of each of the members 2t, as shown best in Fig. 5. A plate 36 fixed to the beveled end of each member 25 provides a ledge for holding articles. I prefer to secure to the plate 28 a metal tube 3i which extends into the movable table portion 25 to provide a bearing or socket for the pivot pin 25, as shown best in Fig. 7. I also prefer to weld to the plate 23 a U-shaped member 52 providing a downwardly inclined flange 33 adapted to slidably receive the flange 3d of a receptacle 35.

The opposite flange of the receptacle 35 is preferably supported by an inclined flange 35 provided by the bracket 3'! which is secured to the bottom wall of the table top 2 I.

The receptacle 35 may be employed as a holder for toilet articles, or as a wash basin or for any other desired use.

Operation In the operation of the table structure, the table may be moved upon its roller equipped base 3 to the desired position in which the table top 2| is brought over the table and in front of the patient, the handle member 24 being rotated to adjust the table top to the desired height with respect to the patient. The handle 24 may then be folded inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 4. The patient may then lift the movable table segment 25 and swingit to the inclined position shown in Fig. 2. This action exposes the receptacle 35 under the table providing also a mirror in front of the patient. If water particles should be thrown forwardly, the inclined member 25 causes them to drain downwardly into the receptacle. After the patient has finished washing, shaving, hair dressing, etc., the segment 25 may be swung downwardly to closed position and the table is then in position for receiving the food tray or other articles. The table may be moved to either side of the bed and the patient has access to the receptacle 35 through one of the two movably-mounted table'sections 25. If desired, the table top may be provided with a single movable top section rather than the divided to sections shown.

In the above structure, it will be noted that there are no right or left-hand models required since the metal top section is divided to provide access from either side for make-up, reading, shaving, etc. Further, the design of the base provides greater maneuverability for use about a chair, table, or wheel chair, or any other object, and permits the device to be moved even by the patient himself to a more comfortable or desirable position than is possible with the ordinary table equipped with the usual H-type of base.

The table top can be raised up and down with greater ease and while requiring less stretching by the patient than the usual table which is equipped with miter gears and handle on the side. Further, it will be noted that the handle for lifting the mechanism is on the top of the table (and normally out of sight), but is readily accessible to the patient without undue effort for raising or lowering the table. Further, with this structure, there is nothing to catch the handles or to interfere with the rapid raising and lowering of the device.

The table apparatus occupies little space, while providing a Wide and sturdy base and the table top may be manipulated to the desired positions with a minimum of effort.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a specific structure in great detail, for the purpose of illustrating one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a bedside table structure, a support, a table top extending laterally therefrom, said top having a pair of liftable table sections therein extending inwardly from opposite edges of said table and disposed in alignment with each other, a receptacle below said table and suspended therefrom beneath said liftable table sections, said liftable table sections being pivotally mounted below the upper surface of said table for swinging to rearwardly tilted positions to expose portions of said receptacle by means of pivot pins, and plates fixed to said table top and receiving said pivot pins and having depending portions providing stops to limit the rearward tilting of the table sections, said stops being below the surface of said table and in front of said pivot pins, the pivotal axes of said separate table portions being spaced from the rear edges thereof and substantially parallel thereto, whereby said separate portions extend downwardly into said receptacle when said separate portions are in their fully open position resting against said stops.

2.,In a bedside table structure, a support, a table top extending laterally therefrom, said to having a liftable table section therein extending inwardly from an edge of said table, a r eceptacle below said table and suspended therefrom beneath said liftable table section, said liftable table section being pivotally mounted below the upper surface of said table for swinging to rearwardly tilted positions to expose portions of said receptacle by means of pivot pins, and plates fixed to said table top and receiving said pivot. pins and having depending portions providing stops .to limit the rearward tilting of the table section, said stops being below the surface of said table and in front of said pivot pins, the pivotal axis of said separate table portion being spaced from the rear edge thereof and substantially parallel thereto, whereby said separate portion extends downwardly into said receptacle when said separate portion is in its fully open position resting against said stops.

3. In a bedside table structure, a support, a tabletop extending laterally therefrom, said top having a liftable table section therein extending inwardly from an edge of said table, a receptacle below said table and suspended therefrom beneath said liftable table section, said liftable table section being pivotally mounted below the upper surface of said table for swinging to rearwardly tilted positions to expose portions of said receptacle by means of pivot pins, and at least one plate fixed to said table top and having a depending portion providing a stop to limit the rearward tilting of the table section, said stop being below the surface of said table and in front of said pivot pins, the pivotal axis of said separate table portion being spaced from the rear edge thereof and substantially parallel thereto, whereby said separate portion extends downwardly into said receptacle when said separate portion is in its fully open position resting against said stop.

HARRY M. BERNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 383,333 Wolz May 22, 1888 1,135,162 Davis Apr. 13, 1915 1,555,617 Anderson Sept. 29, 1925 1,901,174 Kusterle Mar. 14, 1933 1,987,060 Hammond Jan. 8, 1935 2,167,742 Borio Aug. 1, 1939 2,216,789 Scriven Oct. 8, 1940 2,313,690 White Mar, 9, 1943 2,329,902 Hillenbrand Sept. 21, 1943 2,346,919 Hillenbrand Apr. 18, 1944 2,380,379 Attwood July 31, 1945 2,501,608 Lyons Mar. 21, 1950 I FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 554,845 France June 18, 1923 

